Ginger Soy Chicken ไก่เค็ม (gai kem)

This super easy and delicious ginger soy chicken stir-fry used to be a yearly treat for me. My grandmother would make this out of what I call "worship chickens" which are whole, boiled chickens that are used to in the annual "cheng meng" ceremony where we pay respect to past ancestors at their graves. I've modified to recipe so that I can enjoy the same flavour without having to wait for the ceremony!

Admittedly it is not the same as one made from the worship chickens which is usually drier as the chicken is cooked twice (and if it's been used as a worship chicken, it has been out air-drying in the Thai summer weather for at least half a day!) But this version is tasty in its own way, and still fixes my craving every time 🙂

If you want to check out the real deal, a slightly more involved recipe but one that is true to what my grandmother makes and is REALLY what I prefer when I am not in a rush, check out this one: Grandma's Twice Cooked Chicken.

Watch The Full Video Tutorial!

All my recipes come with step-by-step video tutorials with extra tips not mentioned in the blog post, so make sure you watch the video below to ensure success - and if you enjoy the show, please consider subscribing to my YouTube channel. Thank you!

Ingredients

Here are all the ingredients you'll need to make this recipe. For amounts, check out the full recipe card below.

• Chicken thigh, cut into 1 ½” cubes
• Soy sauce
• Golden Mountain sauce (what is it?)
• Black soy sauce
• Garlic, chopped
• Ginger
• Palm sugar, finely chopped
• Ground white pepper
• Cilantro, stems included
• Fresh julienned ginger for garnish, optional
• Jasmine rice for serving

If you want to make this spicy, add some chopped Thai chilies along with the ginger and garlic.

How to Make Ginger Soy Chicken ไก่เค็ม (gai kem)

Here are all the steps to make this recipe. If this is your first time, I highly recommend watching the video tutorial to ensure success.

1. Marinade chicken in soy sauce, Golden Mountain sauce, and black soy sauce for 15-20 minutes.
2. In a wok, sauté garlic and ginger in vegetable oil over medium high heat until garlic starts to turn golden. Add chicken and toss until the exterior looks done.
3. Add palm sugar and pepper, then toss until sugar is dissolved and chicken is completely cooked.
4. Remove from heat, add cilantro, toss and plate. Garnish with extra julienned fresh ginger if desired.
5. Serve with jasmine rice.

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